Surma was drafted 174th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft and played two games for the Hurricanes. He scored a goal in his first game and registered an assist in the second.

While playing for the HC Valpellice Bulldogs, Surma was suspended for 10 months from the Italian ice hockey federation for firing a puck at a referee after the referee had handed out a penalty against him. This was the longest suspension ever handed out in Italy.